"To be honest we didn't expect this result but the team was really good. Now we have to go to Manchester, but this has given us a lot of confidence."

The striker whose two goals last night took his tally for the season to 39, in front of the watching Sir Alex Ferguson, will be returning to Old Trafford for the first time as a player since he left the club in the summer of 2009.

Iker Casillas, who will miss the second leg due to injury, also offered his thoughts on the upcoming game: "We'll go to Manchester with the same idea we brought here and on a pitch that you can enjoy playing on. We have to take that to Old Trafford."

"In the league, when things do not go well, maybe we do not give ourselves 100 per cent. But the cup and the champions league are our two big challenges."

Sergio Ramos also spoke about next week's game in the aftermath of Madrid's semi-final victory which will now see them play either Sevilla or city rivals Atletico Madrid.

The World Cup-winning defender added: "This result means nothing to the Manchester game but it will really lift the team so that we feel up for the return leg."